This week’s launch of Android 15 has been a bizarre one, nevertheless it’s additionally raised a query – are Android updates getting fairly complicated?
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For the previous few years, Google’s technique with Android releases has been to launch a steady model within the Fall, then construct on that with additional enhancements in “Quarterly Platform Releases.” These are delivered to Pixel units as quarterly Characteristic Drops – now being known as “Pixel Drops” – and likewise rolled out to different Android units over time as effectively with loads much less fanfare.
These updates are normally pretty minor, however often ship some fairly essential options to customers.
Google’s present technique, although, has some execs and cons.
Within the “execs” column, there are a number of advantages to those updates for builders and for apps. Since QPR releases don’t include an API bump, there’s loads much less work wanted, which might simply get overwhelming if “.1” releases had been taking place 4 instances a yr.
There’s additionally an absence of apparent fragmentation. Since QPR releases don’t include a quantity and may simply be connected to a month-to-month safety replace, the whole lot simply has Android 15, as an alternative of “15.1,” “15.2,” and so forth. That is a lot simpler to comply with for OEMs too.
These are apparent and large causes that Google hasn’t launched a “.1” replace in a number of years, and it’s led to a state of Android the place releases are certainly far much less fragmented.
However, recently, it’s felt increasingly like the dearth of clear separation on these quarterly releases is resulting in confusion. Attempting to determine which function is on the market the place isn’t tremendous simple except you’re paying very shut consideration (or taking a look at our in-depth breakdowns).
On Pixel, a fast and simple resolution would most likely be so as to add a marker for every QPR replace someplace within the system. The devoted software program updates web page might have a easy mark noting which replace you’re on, or one other part alongside the month-to-month safety patch model. Because it stands right now, the present system is resulting in confusion even for the individuals who’s job it’s to maintain observe of these things. The betas for Android 15 and Android 15 QPR1 had been going on the identical time, and as such, some options from QPR1 had been thought by lots of people to be coming on this week’s Android 15 launch. A transparent designation within the Settings menu, someplace, might go an extended methods in serving to to make it extra apparent which options are tied to particular updates.
I do want we had been in a spot the place a easy “Android 15.1” labored, prefer it does on iOS, however that’s extremely unlikely to occur. It’d be simpler to know system options and when, and the place, they’re accessible. The technical causes right here outweigh the person profit for probably the most half, however I do hope we will discover a higher resolution sooner or later.
What do you suppose?
This Week’s Prime Tales
Android 15 is right here
It’s been an odd yr for the annual Android launch, however following the Pixel 9 launch again in August, Google has lastly launched Android 15. The replace arrives with a bunch of latest options on Pixel units, as we’ve defined in-depth this week.
We’ve additionally bought some tutorials on a number of the most essential options in Android 15.
Plus, Android 15 can be set to launch on extra units within the close to future, because the replace is launching in beta on some units, and a few manufacturers are additionally exhibiting off their takes on the replace.
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